This isn't enforced by wages or attendance. It's more like an unwritten rule.
The people walking beside them were like the walking dead, hurrying back to rest. Except for a few supervisors who would stay behind to chat, the other ordinary servants had no mind for entertainment at all.
Even in the cafeteria earlier, Nan Yue noticed that they, as newcomers, attracted some attention, but it was limited to that.
Some spoke in low voices, but it would end after a sentence or two, and the entire dining process was quiet and fast.
They were like the walking dead—alive, but with a very faint aura of life.
Such a large estate, so many servants, and managed so well; they seemed to have no meaning for existence other than serving the two members of the Wen family.
Inexplicably, a chill rose in Nan Yue's heart.
Accommodation was divided by groups, with one group per floor. Security was on the lower floors, and the living conditions for large groups like security and cleaning were poorer.
The maid group shared large rooms, with four sub-groups per room. The bathrooms and washrooms were separate, but to accommodate so many people, the western-style building looked like a massive prison from afar.
The rooms were all communal platform beds. Nan Yue's room had twenty beds, and the distance between them was only enough for one person to pass sideways.
As newcomers, the three of them were assigned the three outermost beds.
The beds were narrow, only one meter wide, but the bedding was clean and neatly folded.
"You three, come out for a moment."
Sister Min saw them and made a gesture. The three followed her to the end of the corridor.
"Follow me. To avoid your mistakes implicating me, I'll give you a reminder."
"I won't repeat the rules mentioned during your recruitment, but since you've entered this place, I'll say this again."
"Do not leave this building at night. Do not heed the orders of anyone except me and Butler Zhao, with the exception of the young lady and young master, of course."
"Remember your status."
Sister Min left after saying this, leaving the three standing there in silence.
After all, the information revealed by Sister Min's words was very clear: there were indeed rules they had to follow, they just didn't know them yet.
As for the rules mentioned by Butler Zhao and Sister Min, they were only minor troubles that could be violated at a price; whether one could pass through safely depended on their own abilities.
However, the rules mentioned during the recruitment were mandatory.
Nan Yue believed this definitely had to do with "leave".
In the evening, Nan Yue and the others washed up and went to bed early. It wasn't that they didn't want to explore before it got late, but mainly because everyone else was in bed by around ten o'clock.
It would be too conspicuous to run out as soon as they arrived.
Nan Yue got into bed, feeling a bit worried about Gu Xiang Kai. As the night deepened, the surroundings became extremely quiet, making it hard to tell if they were even still alive.
Would twenty people be this quiet while sleeping?
An average person would be terrified in this eerie silence, not knowing if the person sleeping an arm's length away was a human or a ghost.
People are most easily frightened by their own imagination.
The more one thinks, the more terrified they become, and the easier it is to lose one's composure.
But Nan Yue didn't; she fell asleep pleasantly.
However, this sleep was not very peaceful. Nan Yue seemed to vaguely hear the sound of a woman crying.
She wanted to wake up, but she felt as if she were trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake.
Nan Yue's consciousness cleared slightly. Originally, she wanted to forcibly break out of this sleep paralysis, but she was worried she would miss details if she woke up, so she remained still for the time being.
The low sobbing of a woman echoed from afar. Judging by the sound, it came from a very distant place... the direction was from the castle.
The woman's crying was incredibly infectious, making one want to shed tears along with her, wanting to comfort and cherish her to stop her sorrow.
This wasn't right.
Nan Yue was rarely affected by mental attacks in missions; even in Antswamp Village, she could immediately wake up from the ant nest's lure.
But this time, she truly felt sadness from the bottom of her heart.
Nan Yue hesitated no longer. With a gentle shake of her black mist, she broke free from the nightmare.
Nan Yue opened her eyes to pitch-black darkness.
She waited a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the light before turning to look around.
All twenty people were lying quietly in their beds, but their expressions were all filled with the same sorrow.
Nan Yue wasn't the only one who heard that woman's crying.
She gently rolled out of bed, focusing on the conditions of Su Hong and Bai La La.
Both were also trapped in the nightmare, the grief on their faces very evident.
Nan Yue nudged Bai La La. It took the girl a moment to wake from the nightmare. The moment Bai La La woke up, she raised her hand to attack the person beside her, a silver light flashing between her fingers.
Nan Yue leaned back slightly to avoid Bai La La's attack and grabbed her wrist.
Feeling a warm hand touch her, Bai La La was stunned, only then seeing Nan Yue in the darkness.
She didn't speak, but retracted her blade with a hint of apology before poking Nan Yue's hand.
Nan Yue didn't mind and simply made a gesture. Bai La La understood and got out of bed, and the two of them searched the room.
Everyone was immersed in sleep. Nan Yue hesitated for a moment, then let Bai La La stay in the room while she planned to head out.
She wasn't sure what Bai La La's ability was, but looking at her actions, it might not be an attack-type, or she might not even have one.
She would have a better chance going alone.
Bai La La hesitated for a moment, then pointed at Su Hong, her meaning clear: should they wake her?
Nan Yue shook her head slightly. Everything would wait until she returned.
It was only the beginning, and they weren't familiar with each other. Su Hong's ability and character were unknown, and the night's taboos weren't clear yet; it was hard to say if she would be a help or a hindrance.
Waking her up recklessly might lead to a commotion, making them passive.
Nan Yue gently turned the door handle. She had observed before sleeping that the doors here opened and closed silently. On one hand, it would be convenient if one needed to go out unnoticed.
But similarly, if something were to enter undetected, it wouldn't be easily discovered.
Nan Yue walked into the corridor. Their room was near the end of the hallway, close to the bathroom, but that wasn't what attracted Nan Yue.
The structure of the western-style building still inherited the Baroque architectural style of the castle. The most obvious features were the two massive floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows on the side of the building and the five brass crystal chandeliers hanging from the corridor ceiling.
Eden Garden didn't seem to use modern lighting equipment; exquisite candelabra were everywhere.
Even the western-style building where the servants lived was no exception.
A single brass chandelier held fifty candles, lighting the entire corridor brightly.
At this time, the windows and doors were all closed, and there wasn't a hint of wind. The candlelight was steady, without any flickering.
A brass grandfather clock stood in the center, the hour hand pointing at two, its pendulum swinging rhythmically.
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